Evidence for a response preparation bottleneck during dual-task performance: Effect of a startling acoustic stimulus on the psychological refractory period
Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the mechanism associated with dual-task interference in a psychological refractory period (PRP) paradigm. We used a simple reaction time paradigm consisting of a vocal response (R1) and key-lift task (R2) with a stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) between 100ms and 1500ms. On selected trials we implemented a startling acoustic stimulus concurrent with the second stimulus to determine if we could involuntarily trigger the second response. Our results indicated that the PRP delay in the second response was present for both control and startle trials at short SOAs, suggesting the second response was not prepared in advance. These results support a response preparation bottleneck and can be explained via a neural activation model of preparation. In addition, we found that the reflexive startle activation was reduced in the dual-task condition for all SOAs, a result we attribute to prepulse inhibition associated with dual-task processing.
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Multitasking may impair learning through rapid use of the limited capacity of learners' information processing channels, especially attention processes, leaving insufficient space for meaningful learning.
“Multitasking may impair learning through rapid use of the limited capacity of learners ' information processing channels, especially attention processes, leaving insufficient space for meaningful learning.”
From Efficient, helpful, or distracting? A literature review of media multitasking in relation to academic performance (2018) · cites this paper as Maslovat et al., 2013
Attention can be allocated to only one task at a time; multitasking is a myth and the mind switches between tasks.
“According to the bottleneck theory of attention, attention can be allocated to only one task at a time. Thus, multitasking is a myth; instead, the mind switches between tasks.”
From Efficient, helpful, or distracting? A literature review of media multitasking in relation to academic performance (2018) · cites this paper as Maslovat et al., 2013
Stimuli arrives at a processing bottleneck at which only one item can be processed at a time.
“Stimuli arrives at a processing ' bottleneck, ' at which only one item can be processed at a time (Broadbent, 1958; Maslovat et al., 2013).”
From Efficient, helpful, or distracting? A literature review of media multitasking in relation to academic performance (2018) · cites this paper as Maslovat et al., 2013
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- Authors
- Maslovat, D., Chua, R., Spencer, H. C., Forgaard, C. J., Carlsen, A. N., & Franks, I. M.
- Affiliations
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- University of Ottawa (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Maslovat, Dana
- Venue
- Acta Psychologica
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-11
- Volume
- 144
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 481-487
- ISSN
- 0001-6918 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2089910409
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 1.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Acta Psychologica (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Music Perception
- Keywords
- psychological refractory period, dual-task interference, prepulse inhibition, acoustic startle response, stimulus onset asynchrony
- MeSH terms
- Acoustic Stimulation, Female, Humans, Male, Refractory Period, Psychological, Reflex, Startle, Task Performance and Analysis, Young Adult
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